Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Guide
South Carolina Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing professional competency requirements for South Carolina-licensed professional surveyors.
South Carolina Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in South Carolina statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial. The Board has established June 30 of even-numbered years as the renewal date for all licensees.
- Required hours 30 PDH units each biennial renewal period. South Carolina refers to this as continuing professional competency (CPC).
- Carryover A maximum of 15 PDH units may be carried forward into the subsequent renewal period.
- Dual licensees A person licensed as both an engineer and surveyor still completes 30 PDH biennially, with one-third of the credits pertaining to each profession.
Subjects and requirements
- No mandatory subjects The Board does not require ethics or state-law courses, though such courses are accepted for continuing education credit.
- Relevance standard Activities must enhance and improve the licensee’s professional skills and be beneficial in an area of practice.
- Licensee judgment Choice of activities is left to the judgment of the licensee, subject to Board review on audit.
- Out-of-state credit Courses accepted by other states that meet the South Carolina Board’s criteria are generally accepted for credit.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and distance education
Verified status. Online courses are considered acceptable by the Board, and there is no limitation on the number of hours permitted to be taken online. All 30 PDH may be earned through qualifying online coursework.
Practical interpretation. A surveyor may satisfy the full requirement through qualifying online courses that enhance and improve professional skills relevant to the practice of surveying.
The choice of activities is left to the licensee’s judgment, with the expectation that claimed hours can be defended on audit.
Provider and course approval
Verified process. The South Carolina Board does not pre-approve specific continuing education programs or providers. Each licensee determines whether an activity meets the Board’s requirements, and the Board evaluates claimed activities only if the licensee is audited.
The Board provides no specific advice except that a course should enhance and improve a licensee’s professional skills. Continuing education beneficial in an area of practice will be considered for those who are audited.
Licensee responsibility. Because there is no pre-approval, the licensee confirms that each activity qualifies and retains documentation.
Records, Reporting, and Audit
Record retention
Licensees are not required to submit certificates of completion during the renewal process. Instead, each licensee maintains records, including a log showing the type of activity claimed, sponsoring organization, location, duration, instructor or speaker name, and PDH credits earned, along with attendance verification.
These records must be maintained for a minimum of three years, during which the Board may request copies for audit verification. Records maintained by NSPE, the Professional Development Registry for Engineers and Surveyors (PDRES), or similar repositories are acceptable.
Audit
The Board audits a random selection of licensees. A licensee chosen for audit must defend the PDH claimed with documentation of the activity and an expression of the knowledge gained by participation.
South Carolina uses an online renewal process, and it remains the licensee’s responsibility to renew before the deadline whether or not a renewal notice is received.
Exemptions and Status Options
Pre-1969 licensees. Engineers and surveyors who have been continuously licensed in South Carolina since January 1, 1969, are not required to obtain continuing education for renewal.
Emeritus status. Emeritus engineers and emeritus surveyors are not required to meet continuing education requirements. An emeritus licensee returning to active practice must complete the continuing education for each exempted biennial renewal period, not to exceed two renewal periods.
Retired status. A licensee no longer practicing may apply for retired status and may not provide any surveying services; returning to active status requires a reinstatement application, a renewal fee, and at least 30 hours of continuing education.
Other exemptions. Regulation 49-600 and R49-606 provide additional exemptions from the continuing professional competency requirement, subject to Board approval.
Primary South Carolina Sources
Board rules control if a summary conflicts with an official requirement. Licensees should verify their own renewal date and current instructions through the Board.
S.C. Code § 40-22-240
The statute on renewal of registration and continuing education for professional engineers and surveyors, requiring 30 PDH per biennial licensing period.
Article 6, Chapter 49 (R49-600 et seq.)
The Board’s continuing professional competency regulations, covering the 30-PDH requirement, carryover, records, audits, and exemptions.
SC LLR Continuing Education
The Board’s official continuing education page, with the CPC criteria document for licensees and providers.
SC Board of Registration for PEs and Surveyors
The South Carolina board, within the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, that licenses and regulates professional surveyors.
SurveyorCE offers a growing library of surveyor-focused PDH courses through a simple one-time $135 membership. Visit the homepage to see how the program works and decide whether it fits your renewal needs.
Important Notice
This page is an educational summary, not legal advice or a determination that any particular course will be accepted. Requirements, Board interpretations, and renewal procedures can change. The South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, within the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, is the controlling authority.